Written Answers Thursday 3 August 2006

Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether senior citizens who live in properties where heating is provided by a coal fire, with heat circulating from the fire, qualify for the central heating and warm deal programmes and whether it is aware of the number of homes in Scotland which are heated by coal fires.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.

  Her response is as follows:

  Eligibility for the Central Heating and Warm Deal Programmes is determined by a set of defined criteria. Those criteria are assessed on an individual basis and eligibility determined by the Programme Managing Agent. As a general rule, providing an applicant met those criteria they would be eligible if:

  they are over 80 and the heating in their home was provided by an open coal fire, including heating arrangements connected to a system of two or more radiators or ducts, or

  they are over 60 and the heating in their home was provided by a coal fire, excluding heating arrangements connected to a working system of two or more radiators or ducts.

  The criteria covering the Warm Deal Programme are not dependent on the type of heating system in a property. To qualify for the programme householders must be in receipt of one or more of a range of specified state benefits. Those over 60 not on a qualifying benefit are eligible for a reduced grant of 25%.

  The most recent reliable estimates of the number of households which use coal as a primary source of fuel are taken from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002. This survey estimates the number to be around 15,000 dwellings.

Central Heating

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending the Warm Deal scheme to offset rising fuel costs.

Malcolm Chisholm: As I have already announced, the Warm Deal will be extended from January 2007 to include families with disabled children. We are also looking at ways to ensure Warm Deal works together with the Energy Efficiency Commitment to achieve maximum benefits from both.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it has established a Public Service Obligation in respect of the current Northern Isles ferry re-tendering process and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Tavish Scott: The Executive concluded a Public Service Contract (PSC) on 6 July 2006 for the provision of ferry services to the Northern Isles. Provision for PSCs is made in article 4.1 of the EU Maritime Cabotage Regulation 3277/92 of 7 December 1992. The Executive tendered the subsidy for the service as a PSC rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) since it provided the means to achieve the quality standards and security of service required to meet the Executive’s objective of ensuring adequate transport services to the Northern Isles.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the content is of any Public Service Obligation (PSO) in respect of the current Northern Isles ferry re-tendering process and when such a PSO was established.

Tavish Scott: The Executive concluded the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract on 6 July 2006 as a Public Service Contract (PSC) rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) as set out in the answer to question S2W-27263 on 3 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it has established a Public Service Obligation in respect of the re-tendering process to provide a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Tavish Scott: The Executive is pursuing a Public Service Contract (PSC) in an effort to identify a possible operator for a subsidised ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle. Provision for PSCs is made in article 4.1 of the EU Maritime Cabotage Regulation 3277/92 of 7 December 1992. The Executive tendered the subsidy for the service as a PSC rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) since it provided the means to achieve the quality standards and security of service to meet the Executive’s objective of improving accessibility and promoting economic opportunity for the areas involved.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the content is of any Public Service Obligation (PSO) in respect of the re-tendering process to provide a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle and when such a PSO was established.

Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently pursuing a Public Service Contract (PSC) rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) in seeking to identify a possible operator for a subsidised ferry service for this route, as set out in the answer to question S2W-27265 on 3 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ferry Services

Dave Petrie (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne has removed a facility enabling the purchase of subsidised six-journey ticket books in respect of vehicles of five metres or less; if so, what the reasons are for this decision and which of its routes will be affected.

Tavish Scott: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd has made no change to its policy on the use of subsidised Multi-journey tickets.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on which legal principles its decision to close the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredging was founded.

Ross Finnie: The EU Habitats Directive places a number of obligations on Scottish ministers including a requirement to take appropriate steps to avoid in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species for which the SAC has been designated. The Scottish Executive takes very seriously its obligations under EU legislation. On the basis of exchanges with the European Commission and advice from Scottish Natural Heritage and legal advisers, I have concluded that in the case of the Firth of Lorn there is a need, for the time being at least, for a prohibition on scallop dredging within the area covered by the Special Area of Conservation. The mechanism by which I propose to put the prohibition in place is an order under section 1 of the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984. In the terms of that act, I may make an order for the purpose of conserving flora or fauna. The making of the order will be subject to parliamentary procedures.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making compensatory ex-gratia payments to any members of the scallop fishing industry on the isle of Luing suffering significant loss of income as a consequence of the closure of the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredgers.

Ross Finnie: There is no presumption that compensation would be payable as a result of the prohibition on scallop dredging in the Firth of Lorn. My officials will shortly be meeting with the individuals likely to be most affected by the proposed prohibition and will discuss both the likely impact and whether any steps can be taken to mitigate that impact.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence of destruction of marine flora and fauna it based its decision to close the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredgers.

Ross Finnie: The Habitats Directive places a number of obligations on Scottish ministers including a requirement to take appropriate steps to avoid in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species for which the SAC has been designated. In the case of scallop dredging in the Firth of Lorn we cannot at present be assured that these obligations are being met. We propose to carry out research to address this. In the meantime, in light of information and advice from SNH and legal advisors, I have decided to close the site to scallop dredging until the outputs from this research are available.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the insulation of walls in domestic properties.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive’s Central Heating Programme allows a package of central heating and insulation measures including cavity wall insulation for householders over 60 without central heating or with a system broken beyond repair. In addition, the Warm Deal provides a grant of up to £500 for insulation measures including cavity wall insulation to householders on a range of passport benefits. A smaller grant is available to pensioner households not on benefit.

  The Scottish Housing Quality Standard, introduced in February 2004, also contains provision for wall insulation where technically feasible as part of the intention to increase the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing stock. All social landlords are expected to meet this standard between now and 2015.

Rail Freight

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any steps to secure continued access to the Channel Tunnel by Scottish exporters and importers and what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government in respect of a new charging regime for freight trains using the tunnel from 1 December 2006.

Tavish Scott: The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is a reserved matter for the Department for Transport (DfT) and as such Transport Scotland do liaise with DfT to ensure that Scottish rail freight interests are appropriately considered.

Rail Freight

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained any information from EWS regarding the importance of continued use of the Channel Tunnel for transporting freight to and from Scotland.

Tavish Scott: We have not received any information or representations from EWS on this matter.

Rail Network

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24494 by Tavish Scott on 12 May 2006, whether it has now responded to the study of a new strategic park and ride train station at Allandale; if so, what its response was, and, if not, what the reason is for the delay.

Tavish Scott: We have not yet responded to the study into the proposed strategic park and ride station at Allandale.

  We are considering the issues raised in the report in relation to the capacity and projected increased travel demand on the rail network in the Central Belt.

  We will respond to the study prior to the publication of our rail strategy in the autumn.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution it anticipates will be made towards the cost of the Borders railway by (a) the Executive, (b) Scottish Borders Council, (c) Midlothian Council and (d) any other source, expressed in (i) current and (ii) 2002 prices.

Tavish Scott: The financial contributions which the Promoter of the Borders Railway has submitted to Parliament at 2002 base prices is shown in section 56 of their Supplementary Memorandum on Funding and Project Costs which can be accessed via the following web link.

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/waverlyRB/docs/PSRIssues/wr_ProMemoFundProjectCosts.pdf.

  The Scottish Executive’s contribution announced on 16 March 2006 of £155 million at outturn prices equates to £136.66 million at current prices. All other contributions are a matter for the promoter to secure.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fairness of the recent price increase on rail tickets across Scotland.

Tavish Scott: The rail companies must set fares at levels that balance affordability, investment and the need to encourage more travellers to choose the improved train services that we are providing.

  Safeguards are in place to ensure that regulated commuter fares do not go up by more than RPI+1 overall. Some non-commuter fare levels are regulated individually at RPI+1, while unregulated fares are a matter for First ScotRail.

  There were some significant increases on unregulated fares which we are assured by First ScotRail are aimed at effective demand management on the busier routes. There were also a number of ticket price reductions, season ticket prices remained static and the addition of a new advance purchase product.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to investigate with First ScotRail ways to lower the cost of rail travel.

Tavish Scott: The National Transport Strategy (NTS) will aim to provide a single, comprehensive, national statement of the Scottish Executive’s priorities and plans for the future. It will build on our White Paper of June 2004 by showing how transport will contribute to our five key priorities (economy; environment; social inclusion; safety, and integration) over the medium to long-term. The recent NTS consultation included a section relating to issues on fares, including the question of cost of public transport fares. We are currently considering the responses to the NTS consultation.

  Transport Scotland will publish a rail strategy later this year which will set out the priorities for Scotland’s railway over the short, medium and longer term. Fares policy is likely to be a key lever in achieving our aspirations. A research study to ensure that future options for fares policy and fares regulation are based upon the most relevant and robust Scottish data is currently underway. Transport Scotland will work with First ScotRail and look to improve upon the existing fares structure considering in particular options to move towards a single small family of easily recognisable and easy to market fares in Scotland.

Road Accidents

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal and serious road accidents there have been in the South of Scotland parliamentary region in each year from 1999 to date, broken down by road class and number.

Tavish Scott: The following table gives the number of fatal and serious road accidents by road class and number in the South of Scotland Scottish Parliament Region in each of the years from 2002 to 2005. As regards figures for the years from 1999 to 2001, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-110 on 2 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  It should be noted that the following statistics are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at a local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

  Fatal and Serious Road Accidents in South of Scotland Scottish Parliament Region

  

Road Class and Number
2002
2003
2004
2005


M74
8
10
9
8


A(M)74
7
9
3
9


A1
15
8
8
15


A1107
2
2
1
1


A198
4
2
3
2


A199
2
2
2
2


A6088
0
1
0
0


A6089
1
1
0
0


A6091
1
2
1
1


A6093
0
1
2
1


A6094
3
0
2
2


A6105
5
3
2
7


A6112
3
0
2
0


A6124
1
0
0
1


A6137
0
0
1
1


A68
6
10
6
6


A697
6
3
6
4


A698
3
1
0
2


A699
4
4
0
2


A7
14
8
9
14


A70
12
12
11
13


A701
8
6
15
10


A702
13
9
11
4


A703
3
0
4
2


A706
1
1
1
1


A708
3
3
4
1


A709
2
5
2
3


A71
6
4
2
3


A710
2
1
0
2


A711
2
4
2
3


A712
4
1
3
1


A713
7
9
12
8


A714
4
9
3
2


A716
1
0
0
2


A718
1
2
2
1


A719
5
9
5
5


A72
13
16
15
11


A721
2
3
3
0


A73
4
1
4
4


A735
1
0
0
0


A736
1
1
5
1


A737
4
3
7
1


A738
3
0
0
1


A74
1
0
0
0


A743
0
0
1
2


A745
0
0
1
0


A747
0
0
0
1


A75
19
16
15
20


A751
0
0
1
0


A755
0
0
0
1


A759
3
3
1
2


A76
13
9
14
16


A77
29
20
16
17


A78
2
7
7
4


A780
1
1
1
2


A781
1
0
0
0


A79
4
1
8
1


B1345
2
2
1
1


B1347
1
2
1
3


B1348
2
1
2
1


B1361
0
0
3
1


B1377
1
2
1
1


B6089
1
0
0
0


B6350
1
0
0
0


B6352
0
1
1
0


B6355
1
1
2
1


B6357
5
5
2
11


B6358
0
1
0
1


B6359
0
0
1
0


B6360
1
0
1
0


B6362
0
1
0
1


B6364
1
0
0
0


B6368
1
0
0
0


B6371
0
0
0
1


B6372
0
0
0
2


B6374
3
0
0
0


B6397
2
2
1
0


B6399
1
0
0
0


B6400
1
0
0
0


B6401
1
0
1
1


B6404
0
0
2
0


B6414
1
0
1
0


B6436
1
0
0
0


B6437
0
0
1
0


B6438
2
2
0
1


B6456
0
0
1
1


B6460
1
2
0
0


B6461
1
1
0
0


B699
0
1
0
0


B7004
1
1
3
0


B7005
1
0
0
0


B7009
1
0
0
1


B7011
0
0
0
1


B7016
2
2
1
2


B7017
0
0
1
0


B7018
0
1
0
0


B7019
1
0
1
0


B702
0
1
0
0


B7020
2
0
2
1


B7021
0
1
1
0


B7023
0
3
1
0


B7024
1
3
0
0


B7026
0
1
2
0


B7034
3
0
0
1


B7036
1
0
0
0


B7037
1
0
0
0


B7038
1
1
0
0


B7045
0
0
2
0


B705
2
1
1
0


B7052
0
0
0
1


B7065
0
0
1
0


B7068
1
2
0
1


B7076
0
0
2
1


B7077
0
0
0
1


B7078
10
10
7
3


B7079
1
0
0
1


B7080
1
1
0
0


B7081
1
1
1
0


B7083
3
2
2
2


B7084
0
1
1
0


B7085
0
0
1
0


B7086
1
1
0
0


B709
5
1
0
4


B710
0
0
1
0


B7106
0
0
0
1


B715
1
0
0
0


B721
2
2
3
3


B722
1
1
2
1


B723
0
4
2
4


B724
0
2
1
0


B725
1
1
1
2


B727
0
0
0
1


B729
1
0
1
0


B730
4
1
4
2


B733
1
0
0
0


B734
1
0
1
1


B736
0
0
0
1


B737
1
0
0
0


B740
0
0
0
1


B741
0
0
1
1


B742
1
5
0
2


B743
10
4
3
3


B746
1
2
0
0


B747
1
0
0
1


B749
0
0
1
0


B751
0
1
0
0


B752
0
1
0
0


B769
2
1
1
1


B778
2
2
3
0


B780
0
0
0
1


B793
0
0
1
1


B794
0
0
1
0


B795
1
0
0
0


B796
1
0
0
0


B797
1
0
0
0


C Roads
11
10
7
12


Unclassified
98
85
90
87


Total
473
403
409
396

Road Accidents

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14076 by Nicol Stephen on 22 March 2005, in how many fatal and serious road accidents (a) exceeding the speed limit and (b) travelling too fast for the conditions were contributory factors, from January 2005 to date.

Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form.

  Statistical information about the factors which may have contributed to the occurrence of an injury road accident is only available if it occurred since the start of 2005, when the Stats 19 specification was expanded to include such information. The following table gives the statistics which are now available. It must be emphasised that the contributory factors shown in the Stats 19 returns reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of making the report, and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation: subsequent enquiries could lead to a change in the opinion of the reporting officer. The Stats 19 contributory factors are largely subjective, and depend upon the skill and experience of the reporting officer in reconstructing the events which led directly to the accident, based upon the information available at the time of making the report.

  Fatal and Serious Road Accidents in 2005 for which One or Both of the Specified Contributory Factors were Recorded

  

Contributory Factor
Fatal and Serious Accidents in 2005
(Provisional)


Exceeding speed limit
144


Travelling too fast for conditions
289


One or both of these factors
409



  Three points should be noted. First, the results from the first year of the collection of new statistical information like this could be subject to "teething troubles". Second, the total is less than the sum of the figures for the two factors because there were some accidents for which both factors were reported. Finally, these figures are "provisional" because the data for 2005 have not yet been finalised - for example, contributory factors have not been supplied for about 5% of the injury road accidents which were reported for 2005. It is hoped to obtain these details before the final figures for 2005 are produced. There may, however, be some accidents for which the reporting officers cannot identify any contributory factors.

  Analyses of the final contributory factor data for 2005 will be included in Road Accidents Scotland 2005, which is scheduled to be published in November 2006.

Road Accidents

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many fatal and serious road accidents heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) were involved in (a) total and (b) the South of Scotland parliamentary region, in each year from 1999.

Tavish Scott: The following table gives the numbers of fatal and serious injury road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in (a) Scotland and (b) the South of Scotland Scottish Parliament region in each of the years from 1999 to 2005. Some accidents involved more than one heavy goods vehicle.

  Fatal and Serious Injury Road Accidents Involving Heavy Goods Vehicles

  

 
Scotland
South of Scotland Scottish Parliament Region


1999
223
55


2000
221
51


2001
253
48


2002
213
53


2003
225
41


2004
180
49


2005
175
36

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26857 by Tavish Scott on 29 June 2006 and given that no final decision has yet been taken on the proposed online upgrade of the A80, whether it considers it appropriate for the Minister for Transport to have commented, as reported in The Sunday Times on 11 June 2006, suggesting that priority lanes might be introduced as part of the upgrade.

Tavish Scott: The context of the interview was the principle of priority lanes across the network. On the new M80 between Stepps and Haggs integral demand management measures will be introduced if and when required. This was discussed at the Public Local Inquiry in October 2005. The decision following the Public Local Inquiry has now been announced.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.